{"id":1053,"date":"2020-08-17T07:44:19","date_gmt":"2020-08-17T11:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.letlovelive.org\/?p=1053"},"modified":"2021-06-17T11:48:03","modified_gmt":"2021-06-17T15:48:03","slug":"community-cats-are-a-community-responsibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.letlovelive.org\/news\/community-cats-are-a-community-responsibility\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Cats Are A Community Responsibility"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By: Claire Roberson, Communications Director<\/strong><\/p>\n

With an estimated 70 million \u2013 yes, you read that right \u2013 community\/feral cats in the United States, chances are you\u2019ve crossed paths with one of these mysterious felines. You see them feasting at your local restaurant dumpsters, lurking around town or maybe even begging for food outside your door. As animal lovers, it\u2019s hard to see animals without homes, fending for themselves as nomads, but what should we do to help these kitties in the best way?<\/p>\n

The best place to start is identifying whether the cat is a stray or community cat (note: community\/feral\/colony cats are terms used interchangeably<\/em>). A stray cat is an owned cat that is either lost or abandoned. They are used to human interaction and contact and are tame enough to be placed into a home. On the other hand, a community cat is a wild cat that has lived its life outdoors with minimal human interaction, though sometimes they are cared for by humans and have become accustomed to some contact with people.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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If you believe the cat is a stray, the first step is to take them to a vet or shelter to be scanned for a microchip. There are cat owners that allow their cats to roam (though we at the <\/span>SPCA Albrecht Center<\/a> strongly discourage that), so it\u2019s important to see if the cat already has a home before pursuing leaving them at a shelter for <\/span>adoption<\/a>. If they are owned, the owner will be contacted. If not, <\/span>contact<\/a> your local shelter to discuss placing the kitty up for <\/span>adoption<\/a>.<\/span><\/div>\n

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Please note that the majority of cats you see outdoors are community cats and should be left alone as they are not fit for life in a home. However, there are ways that you can help make their lives a little easier.<\/span><\/p>\n

If there is a community cat (or two or three or four\u2026) that showed up at your home and you are willing to take care of them, feeding, watering and general care is the place to start! These cats are happy living outdoors and will wander off and return to the food source as needed, so care can be minimal. However, it is important to pursue basic veterinary care<\/a> so they may live a long, healthy life and pursue spaying and neutering<\/a> to ensure they are not adding to the pet overpopulation issue, or you may find yourself with a litter of kittens you cannot care for.<\/p>\n

The process of spaying\/neutering<\/a> community cats is called \u2018TNR<\/a>\u2019 \u2013 trap-neuter-return. There are many vets, animal control entities and shelters that have integrated such a program to help reduce the unwanted cat population. The City of Aiken and the SPCA Albrecht Center<\/a> have partnered to address the problem of feral community cats and came up with a simple, effective TNR<\/a> program for community cats within City of Aiken limits.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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To trap a community cat, you will need a live <\/span>trap<\/a>, not a kennel or closed carrier (like the one pictured). These <\/span>traps<\/a> can be purchased at places like <\/span>Tractor Supply<\/a> in Aiken for just $30. Then, all you need is a can of wet food as an incentive for the cat to enter the <\/span>trap<\/a>. Be sure to check the <\/span>trap<\/a> regularly so the cat isn\u2019t in there too long as easy bait for predators. Don\u2019t worry, sometimes it takes a few tries before successfully trapping.<\/span><\/div>\n

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Once they are trapped, do not release unless your vet isn\u2019t available or open for surgery and, thus, the cat shouldn\u2019t stay in the trap<\/a> for a prolonged period of time. They will become weary of the trap<\/a> and it will take much longer before they will enter it again. Also, do not trap a community cat for TNR\u2019ing<\/a> if they have a tipped ear. This is done during a TNR<\/a> surgery, indicating they have already been sterilized.<\/p>\n

The next step is to take them to your local shelter or vet for surgery. At the SPCA Albrecht Cente<\/a>r, surgery drop off is between 8am and 8:30am; Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Please call the Veterinary Care Center<\/a> before arriving to let them know you are bringing in a cat for TNR<\/a>. The cost is just $40 and includes the surgery, rabies vaccination and ear tip (to let Animal Control and other citizens know the cat has already been TNR\u2019d<\/a>). You will also be informed when to pick up your furry, feral friend, as it is the responsibility of the trapper to release the cat back on the property it was found (relocating is not recommended as it just leaves an open space for new cats to move in and is highly stressful to the cat that is used to its outdoor space<\/em>).<\/p>\n

If assistance is needed in trapping, Animal Control can be contacted to set up a trap \u2013 (803) 642-7620<\/a> (City of Aiken) & (803) 642-1537<\/a> (Aiken County).<\/p>\n

Community cats are a community responsibility. With the average colony cat\u2019s lifespan a maximum of 8 years, we can do our part to extend that age by providing a safe, healthy, loving life and help reduce cat overpopulation for the sake of our local shelters and our feline friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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An Aiken native and self-proclaimed cat lady, Claire Roberson is the SPCA Albrecht Center\u2019s Communications Director, working in marketing, grant writing and media correspondence. She attended College of Charleston, where she graduated with a degree in Nonprofit Business and interned with Charleston Animal Society, the leader in No-Kill South Carolina. When not working, you can find Claire hanging out with her 18-pound Maine Coon mix, Anakin.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The\u00a0SPCA Albrecht Center for Animal Welfare<\/a>\u00a0is a private, nonprofit, no kill animal shelter in Aiken, SC.\u00a0 The SPCA also operates a local\u00a0Thrift Store<\/a>\u00a0(“Where Shopping Saves Lives”),\u00a0 a public, affordable\u00a0Veterinary Care Center<\/a>\u00a0& a\u00a0Dog Park<\/a>.\u00a0 It is our mission to improve the lives of companion animals by rehoming abused, abandoned, and neglected pets while fighting for their well-being through vigorous legislative efforts, humane education, and by offering affordable veterinary care for all.<\/p>\n

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